Authors
Adam C Davis, Caroline Dufort, Jessica Desrochers, Tracy Vaillancourt, Steven Arnocky
Publication date
2018/6
Journal
Evolutionary Psychological Science
Volume
4
Pages
141-153
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Description
From an evolutionary perspective, gossip has been considered a putative intrasexual competition strategy that is used to vie for mates and resources linked to reproductive success. To date, no study has directly examined the relations between intrasexual competitiveness, reported tendency to gossip, and attitudes toward gossiping. Limited empirical work has also focused on whether gossip frequency, gossip content, and gossip attitudes correspond to women’s and men’s divergent intrasexual competition strategies and evolved mating preferences. In a sample of 290 heterosexual young adults, we found that intrasexual competition positively predicted reported gossip frequency and favorable attitudes toward gossiping. Additionally, women reported a greater tendency to gossip in comparison to men, particularly about physical appearance and social information, whereas men reported gossiping more …
Total citations
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Scholar articles
AC Davis, C Dufort, J Desrochers, T Vaillancourt… - Evolutionary Psychological Science, 2018